






a@a 



I 



HH 



w 



The Riinciw.es And LawsIT Which Have Produced 
The Greatest Men SvVThroughAllTheAges 



Hi 



SNhksSS 









I"',,- 



■Jf 



,, 















John Henry Remmers 



■ 



Ira 



™ 




Class ' f I 

Book _!_ 

Copyright W - 

COPXR1GHT DEPOStT. 



*?* o 



K 




Invincible Power 



By 
JOHN HENRY REMMERS 



t 



Cincinnati: 

THE CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING CO. 

Publishers 






Copyright, 1922, by 

The Co-operative Publishing Co. 

Cincinnati, Ohio 



©GI.A653661 



The Abingdon Press 
Cincinnati 



JAN 27 1922 



FOREWORD 

I have tasted the bitter cup of failure, de- 
spair, and misery. I have known the 
pangs of a breaking heart. I have lived 
intensely and I have learnt. 

To-day I am Free, I am Happy, my soul 
is at Peace. I know no want, and I experi- 
ence from time to time the fulfillment of all 
my reasonable desires. 

I see on the rainbow trail many unhappy 
souls, and for these I have revealed those 
Principles and Laws which led me from 
darkness into Light. It is my great hope 
that through this work many will find The 
Lighted Way. With that in view I dedi- 
cate this volume to the memory of my 
mother. The Author. 



"The sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than 
the man of good abilities, and good emotions, in- 
capable of their direct exercise, incapable of his own 
help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight 
upon him, and resigning himself to let it eat him 
away." — Dickens. 



"The ideal Life is in our blood and never will be 
still. We feel the thing we ought to be beating be- 
neath the thing we are." 

— Bishop Phillips Brooks. 



INVINCIBLE POWER 



"Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the 
gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruc- 
tion, and many there be which go in thereat." 

—Christ. 



THE ELEMENT— RESISTANCE 

To succeed in life and to find happiness 
it is of vital importance first of all to com- 
prehend and realize the element Resist- 
ance. This element is always present, 
a part of the Divine plan, and no living 
thing can escape it. Its purpose is evolu- 
tion: And in opposition to this element 
Resistance stands Aggressiveness. By the 
action of the two we have a result: either 
Failure or Success, according to the degree 
and nature of our Aggressiveness. 

An individual governing himself by the 
laws of progress Aggressively meets Re- 
sistance with Wisdom and Strength, and 
by the very contact promotes the growth 
of his Personality — unfoldment of Power, 
Evolution, Success. 

As you set into action the Instrument, 
Principles, Laws, etc., I have endeavored 
to make clear in this volume, you will meet, 
as you have in the past met, with this ele- 
ment Resistance; therefore it is most 
important that you now see this element 
in its true light and realize its vast im- 
portance in the great scheme of life. 
x 3 



To progress we must confront our prob- 
lems or adverse conditions, and not avoid 
them. Man is inclined to sidestep Re- 
sistance, ever seeking and always failing 
to find a road of Non-resistance, which, 
he hopes, may lead to the realization of his 
dreams and desires. 

Resistance is a part of the Great Plan, 
and there is nothing in existence which can 
progress without direct contact with this 
element. 

The seed is placed in the ground, takes 
root, but must overcome by Aggressive- 
ness, the Resistance of the ground cover- 
ing it, to grow. If the acorn failed to func- 
tion in Aggressiveness, there could be no 
more oaks. 

Just so it has been from the beginning of 
time with every living thing. 

The child in the mother's womb, making 
its first independent move for life, Ag- 
gressively attacks Resistance on its way 
to life. 

A world without Resistance would not 
be worth living in. A life without Resist- 
ance becomes useless and worthless, be- 
cause without Resistance there can be no 
Aggressiveness and consequently no Evo- 
lution. 

Without the Resistance of the earth's 
atmosphere the sunlight would produce no 
14 



warmth, and there would be no life or vege- 
tation, In short, without Resistance and 
Aggression the entire plan of the Universe 
would cease to function. Resistance and 
Aggression are prime factors in the Divine 
plan of progress, and therefore it is most 
important when progress is the aim of the 
individual that this truth be realized. 

Resistance is perpetually present. You 
have from the beginning encountered Re- 
sistance and possessed just enough Ag- 
gressiveness to overcome it or you would 
not be alive to-day. To obey the con- 
structive laws of life is to add to the 
Aggressiveness which is already yours. In 
this manner you rise above a certain realm 
of Resistance (like the seed conquering the 
resistance of the ground), from which point 
you will find less Resistance, because of 
the strength which has been added to your 
Aggressiveness by overcoming the first 
and most stubborn realm of Resistance. 
In other words, once you get above the 
ground (like the seed), your growth will 
meet with less Resistance, be easier, and 
more rapid. Therefore, the old saying, 
"Nothing succeeds like success." 

It required many years for the sun's rays 

to penetrate the earth's atmosphere and 

produce the warmth necessary for the life 

and progress of all earthly things. But it 

15 



is here, nevertheless, the preassumed re- 
sult has been accomplished. This is a tre- 
mendous example of Resistance, Aggres- 
sion, and Result. 

The same Divine Intelligence which has 
brought about life by the Resistance and 
Aggression of elements has also established 
that Resistance which confronts you; but 
the Divine has also implanted within you 
Aggressiveness for the sole purpose of 
evolution or self-development. 

You are as much a part of the Great Plan 
as the sunlight, and the atmosphere which re- 
sists it. Always remember this. 

The sunlight would be useless without 
the Resistance opposing it, and likewise 
it would be with your life or any other life; 
in fact, there could be no life at all without 
the elements Resistance and Aggression. 

Try to imagine this world if everything 
that individuals desired were given them 
without the least effort on their part. 
Would you care living here if such were 
the case? Of course not. Neither would I. 

Resistance exists everywhere, and the 
positive way to use this element for self- 
development is by applied Aggressiveness. 
And Aggressiveness becomes positive when 
actuated by those laws which are in har- 
mony with the Divine plan and govern 
16 



progress. Resistance plus Aggressiveness 
develops Power of Personality. 

If there were no Resistance there could be 
no progress. It is the element which should 
stimulate Aggressiveness, and Aggressive- 
ness properly governed builds Success. 
Therefore you must set into action the In- 
strument, Principles, Laws, etc., which will 
govern your Aggressiveness in accordance 
with Wisdom and Strength, meeting Re- 
sistance as it comes, and by the very con- 
tact unfold the possibilities of your per- 
sonality. In this manner you cannot fail, 
and what is more each new dawn will add 
to your realization and joy of being a liv- 
ing, breathing, intelligent part of a vast 
and wonderful plan. 



17 



THE 
INSTRUMENT— CONSCIENCE 

Within the soul of every man exists Con- 
science. It is that mysterious part of 
us which can be ignored but never de- 
stroyed. It is That which, if obeyed, will 
reveal those laws which positively and ab- 
solutely govern a successful life. 

Those who hear the Voice of Conscience 
and live according to the principles which 
it reveals rise to the very heights of life, 
yea immortality. 

There is no excuse for living an unhappy 
life, for, if we will but heed, Conscience is 
ever urging us to adopt those laws which 
will, without question, lead to success and 
happiness. 

Destructive living is in direct opposition 
with the great plan of the Divine Intelli- 
gence, and Conscience was purposefully 
implanted in the soul of man, that try as 
he might he cannot destroy it. He may 
ignore it for a time, but Conscience is al- 
ways present, either bringing the man to 
obey and rewarding him with happiness, 
J 9 



or punishing him for his continued diso- 
bedience. 

Judas betrayed the Christ for thirty 
pieces of silver, then went and hanged him- 
self. This man ignored his Conscience for 
a time, but he could not escape it, and his 
punishment was so severe that he sought 
relief in death. You cannot destroy Con- 
science, and for every disobedience you 
positively pay the inevitable price. Ob- 
serve men closely, study their faces, look 
deep into their eyes; regardless as to who 
they may be, the story is told one way or 
another. In this manner you will find all 
the proof that your heart desires. 

You yourself are aware that you possess 
a Conscience — you know it — but do you 
fully realize what that Conscience is? 

That Conscience which you possess is 
the instrument of your Soul, through which 
you hear the voice Divine. That Voice 
which is ever and always calling to you to 
obey those laws which lead from Darkness 
into Light, from Misery to Happiness, 
from Failure to Success. 

If you will but allow yourself to be 
guided by those laws, in harmony with the 
Divine plan, which govern progress, then, 
indeed, your personality will become mag- 
nificent. It will radiate with a light and 
warmth that men must see and feel. The 



very ether about you then vibrates with 
power, you become a positive factor in a 
world of doubt, and men will eagerly place 
their trust in your hands; a Man among 
men, all material things shaping them- 
selves for your welfare and happiness, be- 
cause of your harmony with the Divine 
laws of Progress. 

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore 
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of 
light." —Christ. 

Therefore, now fully realize the tremendous 
value of that wonderful Instrument, Con- 
science. And remember always that it is 
the most positive medium through which 
the Divine can commune with you and 
give to you that wisdom which no 
earthly source can supply. Through Con- 
science you receive the light to understand 
those vital laws which will lead you on to a 
useful, progressive, successful, and happy 
life, such as the Divine Intelligence desires 
that you should live. 

Read the first two chapters again. They 
are of vital importance, and open for 
you the gateway to a sphere of higher life. 



"Let me to-night look back across the span 

Twixt dawn and dark and to my Conscience say 
Because of some good act to beast or man 
The world is better that I lived to-day." 



TRUTH 



OH, SAY, WHAT IS TRUTH ? 

Oh, say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem 

That riches of worlds can produce; 
And priceless the value of truth will be when 
The proud monarch's costliest diadem 

Is counted but dross and refuse. 

Then, say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, 

For the limits of time it steps o'er; 
Though the heavens depart, and the earth's foun- 
tains burst, 
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, 
Eternal, unchanged, evermore. 

— John Jacques. 



THE PRIME PRINCIPLE- 
TRUTH 

"I am nothing, but truth is everything." — A. 
Lincoln. 

"How happy is he born or taught 
That serveth not another's will; 
Whose armor is his honest thought, 
And simple truth his utmost skill! 

— Sir Henry Wotton. 

Truth is the basic law of the universe. 
Truth is the Emancipator of the Soul. 
In other words, Truth makes the man 
free; ties which would otherwise bind him 
to all the false and destructive modes of 
life, by Truth are broken, he is no longer 
Slave but Master and in harmony with the 
fundamental principle of the Divine plan. 

Truth is the rock-bottom upon which 
Man's success-structure must be built to 
withstand the stress of the future. 

Truth is the mighty and never-failing 
constructive element of the individual, 
while its direct opposite, Deceit, is the 
mighty and never-failing destructive ele- 
ment. One cannot play between the two 
and ever hope of living a successful life. 
25 



It is true there are men who gain consider- 
able material wealth by methods of de- 
ceit. But observe life closely and you will 
learn that this sort of gain, instead of being 
a blessing, is a positive curse to those who 
possess it. The most elegant mansions are 
often nothing more than walls of brick 
and stone where misery dwells. 

It is amazing how few realize the all-im- 
portance of Truth as the prime factor of 
Successful living. Basically, it is unnat- 
ural for man to practice deceit. The great 
majority of men, deep down in their hearts, 
hate it, but labor under the terrific false 
impression that one cannot progress by ad- 
hering to the positive Truth at all times. 
They try to forgive themselves with the 
feeling that it is impossible to practice ab- 
solute Truth in the business world to-day. 
Christ was the manifestation of Truth, and 
such immortals as Washington and Lin- 
coln are splendid products of this principle. 
These men knew the power of Truth and 
lived it; their lives are shining examples of 
what Truth can make of man. 

"The soul that steers by this unfading star 
Needs never other compass, all the far, 
Wide waste shall blaze with guiding light; the 
rocks 
And sirens meet and mock its straining gaze. 
Serene from storms and all Life's battle-shocks, 
It shall not veer from any righteous ways." 



Deceit's temptation crossed the paths 
of all truly great men just as often as it 
crosses yours and mine in the business 
world to-day. At first it is no easy matter 
to adhere to the principle Truth absolutely, 
but it is the only path that leads to the 
bigger things and a life worth while. 

It is utterly impossible to betray fellow- 
man, gain material wealth, and live to en- 
joy that gain. Such action is against 
Divine law, and some day, in some unex- 
pected manner, if guilty, you pay the in- 
evitable penalty for your disobedience. 

The prime principle Truth holds good 
for every individual regardless of his posi- 
tion in life. Christ, the greatest teacher 
of all time, says plainly: 

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the 
whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall 
a man give in exchange for his soul?" 

What good is all worldly wealth if we are 
miserable at heart? Is this success? No 
never! What good are all the rich man's 
possessions if he finds no peace? What has 
he gained? What can he give in exchange 
for happiness ? On the other hand, the man 
who has built his success-structure upon 
Truth, though he possesses one-tenth as 
much material wealth as the man who 
built upon the sands of deceit, still has a 
27 



thousand times more, for he in reality won 
the prize both were after: 

Peace, Contentment, Happiness. 

The one enjoys life from every angle be- 
cause he is in harmony with Truth and has 
found complete freedom; while the other 
has found a greater material gain but lost 
that which he sought most, and his life is 
bound fast by the very things it was his 
object to escape in the beginning. One 
man lived according to law, the other con- 
trary to it. 

Be assured that you are in perfect har- 
mony with Truth, the vital success-qual- 
ity. Test yourself in the following man- 
ner. Pay attention to every word you 
utter while conversing with those with 
whom you come in daily contact. If you 
have been in the habit of speaking lightly, 
indifferent as to the accuracy of your 
statements, this will quickly dawn upon 
you and a reaction will take place; you 
will then have clearly and consciously dis- 
covered the first cause for your lack of 
success. You have been out of harmony 
with the fundamental and most important 
principle of successful living. You cannot 
build a successful life any more than you 
can go on living without food, unless you 
adopt and practice the principle Truth. 
28 



Every man's chance is equal. Some of 
the most noble souls came from the most 
humble stations of life. It is the habits 
a man forms in living from day to day 
which eventually take him to success or 
failure. Therefore, let us reason in this 
manner: If the acquiring of good habits 
must inevitably lead to success and bring 
the clean pleasures of life, then why retain 
those which are destructive and bring suf- 
fering ? 

My friend, allow none to confuse you. 
There is but one way to get the best out of 
this life, and that is — to live in such a man- 
ner as to be in harmony with the Divine In- 
telligence. There is no other way, and the 
earlier a man awakes to this fact the less of 
misery will he know and more of success 
and happiness will he find. 

If you have not until this reading fully 
realized and understood the prime prin- 
ciple Truth, then it is vital that you realize 
and understand it now. If it is your desire 
to elevate yourself positively and perma- 
nently, then you must begin with Truth, 
the rock-bottom, and build therefrom. 

Should your occupation demand that 
you deceive others to earn your daily 
bread, then you are a slave. Free yourself 
in Truth. Seek an honorable position and 
give up the one that will inevitably de- 
29 



stroy all the beauty and charm and joy you 
would otherwise find in living a Truthful 
life. Such is the law of Truth, and none 
can change it. You have your choice — 
every individual has, to live according to 
those principles which govern success or to 
live according to those which lead to failure 
and distress. 

Men realize that it is vital to have con- 
structive laws if their city, state, or coun- 
try is to be a good and prosperous place in 
which to live, but, strange as it may seem, 
nevertheless, it is a fact that the great ma- 
jority of the same men will not realize that 
their own lives must be governed like- 
wise. 

Man is both spiritual and material. The 
spiritual is that phenomenal part of us, 
which is our true self upon which the wel- 
fare of the mind and body is dependent. 
Therefore the body is secondary and sub- 
ject to the state of the spirit. Health to 
a great degree is a condition of mind. When 
man is depressed in spirit the body be- 
comes bent and broken, but, on the other 
hand, a twisted and handicapped form is 
often carried for many years and made to 
perform astounding things by a healthy 
spirit in harmony with the constructive 
laws of the universe. For example: Helen 
Keller, despite her terrible affliction of 
3° 



being born deaf, dumb, and blind, has as- 
tonished the world by acquiring a com- 
plete education. Another example is that 
of Michael Dowling, who, after the loss of 
both legs, one arm, and most of his re- 
maining hand, became a successful jour- 
nalist and banker. It is said that he was 
the most cheerful man in the Northwest, 
and possessed a marvelous capacity for 
cheering the disheartened. 

The body is but the material representa- 
tion of the spirit: 

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and 
that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?" — Paul. 

The body is substance gathered about that 
phenomenal part of us which represents 
personality and basically desires guidance 
from the Divine Intelligence from whence 
it came: 

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right- 
eousness and all these things shall be added unto you." 
— Christ. 

The Divine Intelligence is ever and always 
desirous of assisting us> but this wonderful 
help can or will only come if we live in har- 
mony with Truth and other essential prin- 
ciples: 

"Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall 
find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you." — 
Christ. 

3 1 



In other words, we must make of ourselves 
a receptive and positive instrument 
through which the influence of the Divine 
Intelligence has free play. Thus you live 
on the positive side of life, where as other- 
wise you live on the negative side, which 
leads ever deeper and deeper into the mist 
of confusion. 

Therefore, fully realize that the prin- 
ciple Truth is paramount in the field of 
success. With Truth you take the first 
step to overcome your negative conditions. 
You become courageous, daring, self-re- 
liant, progressive, and get your first 
glimpse of real happiness. Let this fact 
take root in your mind and strengthen it 
day by day. Make Truth the gem of your 
personality. Obey it in the smallest detail 
and the most important occurrence of 
your daily life. 

As you practice this prime principle 
watch for results; you will have placed 
yourself in harmony with a Divine law 
that will work wonders for your benefit, 
just as sure as the sun's first rays appear 
in the East. 

In Truth you have found freedom, shat- 
tered the false and destructive shackles of 
wrong living, and established harmony 
with the Divine Intelligence, whose ex- 
alted wisdom guides the universe. 
32 



"The stars of heaven are free because in amplitude 
of liberty their joy is to obey the laws." 

— William Watson. 



33 



THE 
GREAT PRINCIPLE -FAITH 

"I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever 
I may return, with a task before me greater than 
that which rested upon Washington. Without the 
assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended 
him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I can- 
not fail." — From Lincoln's eloquent farewell to his 
Springfield neighbors ', February II, 1861. An avowal 
of a great soul's faith. 

Faith in the Divine promotes self-confi- 
dence, and self-confidence is a powerful 
factor for success; when self-confidence is 
based upon Divine Faith it is invincible. 

Having accepted the prime principle 
Truth, it is now most necessary that you 
realize the great principle Faith. 

"According to thy Faith be it unto you." — Christ. 

The spiritual part of your existence is in 
reality you, and if it lacks Faith in the Di- 
vine Intelligence, the source from whence 
it came, you cannot progress. You must 
reinforce Truth with Faith for continued 
progress. 

35 



"Thy Faith Must Make Thee Strong." 

You will fail in the practice of Truth un- 
less you adopt the principle Faith. And 
why should you refuse to adopt Faith 
when such men as Lincoln openingly ac- 
knowledged it before the world? 

In the practice of absolute Truth you 
will in the beginning experience temporary 
reverses, but if you will hold fast to Faith 
in the Divine you will realize later that 
these temporary reverses were in reality 
the stepping-stones for greater progress, 
and that you could not have progressed 
had they not occurred. The mist clears. 
You begin to see the light. In other words, 
the soul now actually experiencing itself 
in harmony with the Divine thrills the ma- 
terial body, calling it forth to greater ac- 
tion in every nerve and sinew. There 
comes over you a joy of living the like of 
which you have never experienced. 

"What know we greater than the soul? On God 
and Godlike men we build our trust." — Tennyson. 

All truly great men have realized that 
mankind cannot progress far without Faith 
in the Omnipotent. It is said of the im- 
mortal Lincoln that he relied solely upon 
the guidance of the Divine Intelligence in 
the most critical periods of his life. His 
splendid soul knew the strength of Faith, 
3* 



and, like Washington, he trusted in the 
Divine for wisdom to guide the destinies 
of a nation. 

"For what man is there among you, if his son ask 
bread will he give him a stone." — Christ. 

Without Faith real progress is impossible. 
Without it you are a field for all negative 
elements such as Fear, Lack of Confidence, 
Worry, Confusion, Nervousness, and Poor 
Health. 

Truth and Faith are the two greatest 
principles in existence; there are others, 
but these are paramount and must be 
realized first if you wish to live success- 
fully. You are the master of your destiny, 
you must decide. Why go on living in op- 
position to these principles when their 
adoption will speedily place you on the 
road to Health, Happiness, and Prosper- 
ity . 

Faith's direct opposite is Doubt, which 
at all times leads to Worry. One is posi- 
tive, the other negative. Faith constructs 
and leads on to progress, while Worry de- 
moralizes the man and eventually leads 
him to destruction. 

Faith is the missing link between the 
vast majority of men and the Divine In- 
telligence. Therefore, the world knows so 
much misery and despair. Man cannot 
37 



walk alone and live successfully. He must 
possess an immovable Faith to progress 
and obtain happiness; otherwise he stum- 
bles on, gaining here, losing there, but 
never finding the one path that leads to the 
clean and beautiful things. 

"I say unto you, if ye have Faith as a grain of 
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, re- 
move to yonder place: and it shall remove and 
nothing shall be impossible unto you." — Christ. 

To progress it is absolutely necessary 
that you cast Worry from your life; and as 
Faith is the destroyer of Worry, then, in 
all sincerity, adopt Faith and Worry will 
cease to exist. This is the only process. 
Worry is nothing more than a negative 
habit which destroys, while Faith is posi- 
tive and builds. You must weed out the 
one and plant the other. It is not difficult 
to do this if you are sincere and possess 
an intense desire to be elevated into a realm 
of higher life; and most pleasing of all is 
the fact that as your Faith grows in 
strength you actually experience the growing 
personal interest of The Divine. It is then 
that you laugh at that poor, miserable, 
drifting, former self. In Faith you will 
have found strength to face the world una- 
fraid with a new courage. You will see all 
life in another light. You will find real joy 
38 



in the smallest things. You will lose de- 
sire for the artificial and seek only that 
which is genuine. You will pause and 
listen with delight to every note in the 
song of a bird. You will stop and with new 
interest study a blade of grass. And if the 
day is dark you will know that above the 
clouds the sun is shining gloriously, that 
the shadow is but temporary and will most 
certainly pass away. You will thrill with 
the keen joy of life, realizing that you are 
now a conscious part of that sublime In- 
telligence, which guides the stars through 
endless space, gives fragrance to the rose, 
and, because of your Faith, takes a vital 
interest in your welfare. And all your de- 
sires, if they be reasonable and wholesome, 
in time will be fulfilled. 

"For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he 
shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, 
from him shall be taken away even that he hath." — 
Christ. 

Worry is a miserable, unnatural state 
of mind. The very fact that it withers the 
body proves its destructiveness. 

Worry is a clear indication that you lack 
Faith and are depending entirely or too 
much upon yourself and material things. 
In this state you actually doubt the ex- 
istence of a Divine Intelligence and repel 
39 



the very assistance it is possible you are 
asking for in prayer. This is real confu- 
sion, for you are asking the help of One 
whose existence you really question. If 
you possess perfect Faith there can be no 
Doubt, and Worry knows no place in your 
life. Ponder over this, as it has a tremen- 
dous meaning, and is vital for your wel- 
fare and happiness. 

"You do not have to fight. 
You do not have to struggle. 
You only have to know." 

My friend, if you will in all sincerity 
adopt the great principle Faith and live 
each hour of your life knowing that the 
Divine, because of your Faith, is ever and 
always shaping material things of this 
world for your welfare, then, indeed, you 
will progress and be happy. Worry will at 
times come creeping back, but you will 
crush it as you would a serpent at your 
feet and calmly go on your way, forgetting 
that it ever crossed your path in life. 

When you reinforce Truth with Faith 
no material obstacle can long bar your way 
of progress. When you live contrary to 
these great principles you inevitably pay 
the penalty. There is no escape, for such 
is Law. 

Do you now fully realize the absolute 
40 



folly of Worry, and do you clearly perceive 
that it is nothing more than a negative 
habit which is ever widening the gap be- 
tween you and the very things your heart 
desires most? And do you fully realize 
that Faith is the destroyer of Worry and 
by adopting it you change the entire mode 
of your life? If you fully realize these stu- 
pendous Truths — then rejoice, for you 
are no longer on the quicksands of destruc- 
tion, but at last on the rock-paved way of 
Progress. 

Faith is the link which binds you to the 
Divine Intelligence; there is none other. 
By it you are carried on and on to the bet- 
ter things of life and find: "That Peace 
That Passeth All Understanding," 
without which all material gain is as 
naught. 

If in all sincerity you have now realized 
and adopted the two great principles, 
Truth and Faith, look forward into the fu- 
ture with joy, for along this road of prog- 
ress, and none other, will you find the un- 
tainted treasures and the real beauties of 
life. 



41 



"All one's life is Music, if one touch the notes 
rightly and in tune." — Ruskin. 



THE 
WHOLESOME PRINCIPLE— LOVE 

"Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that 
men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for 
this is the law and the prophets." — Christ. 

The law of Love toward fellow-man must 
be realized and obeyed if we are to con- 
tinue our way on the road of progressive 
living. 

Think of that most wonderful Love in 
the heart of the Saviour as he asked the 
Divine to forgive those who so unmerci- 
fully nailed him to the cross ! True, Christ 
was crucified because of the sublime doc- 
trines which He gave to man, and His 
crucifixion was the most dastardly crime 
ever committed by the hand of man; yet, 
Christ's teachings will live forever because 
they are Divine. (Read "The Crucifixion," 
by Frederick Farrar.) Those who crucified 
Christ thought by so doing they would 
destroy His doctrines of Truth, Faith, and 
Love, but how miserably they failed. The 
most noble characters the world has ever 
known are the products of these doctrines 
as laid down by Jesus Christ. 
45 



Had Christ surrendered and betrayed 
the Divine to save His material Self, then 
truly these wonderful doctrines would 
have been lost. But Christ so loved his 
fellow-men that He chose death to have 
them live. This is Love in its grandest 
and most supreme manifestation. 

"As the Father loved me, so have I loved you: 
continue ye in my love. 

"This is my commandment. That ye love one 
another, as I have loved you." — Christ. 

To love thy neighbor as thyself may 
seem a difficult thing to do, but have you 
ever, in all sincerity, tried it? If not, then 
for your own welfare and happiness do so. 
You need not tell him, but begin by for- 
getting his faults, seeking his good quali- 
ties only and wishing him well. It is not 
so easy in the beginning to do this, but be 
determined and through Faith give Love 
a trial; and as time passes you will be sur- 
prised by the results of your own thoughts. 
A reaction actually takes place. You will 
begin to feel bigger, better, happier than 
you ever felt in all your life. Those things 
that others did that annoyed you before 
will hardly receive your attention now, and 
you will smile where you frowned before — 
in this manner men grow above men. Hav- 
ing brought yourself above those things 
46 



which formerly annoyed, you are no 
longer a field for their destructive action. 
And what is most gratifying of all is that 
any evil act or intention directed toward 
you reacts and actually shapes itself for your 
good. This may seem strange and unbe- 
lievable, but, nevertheless, it is an abso- 
lute fact. 

Eliminate fault-finding, hatred, and re- 
venge from your heart and you will experi- 
ence a wonderful transformation of your- 
self. 

"They who forgive most shall be most forgiven. " 

All great souls have realized this fact, 
otherwise they could never have been 
great. Why go on fault-finding, hating, 
and seeking revenge when such thoughts 
and actions retard your progress and make 
you unhappy? 

If weeds of this kind are growing in the 
garden of your personality uproot them, 
and by the side of Truth and Faith plant 
Love so that all may grow and bloom un- 
hampered. It is personality which makes 
the man. It is that which we see in others 
which causes us to pause and admire or 
turn and hurry on our way. Therefore, if 
you live in accordance with the con- 
structive laws of life your personality 
shines with a radiance that draws others 
47 



toward it. You become magnetic. Men 
uncertain of themselves, living on the nega- 
tive side of life, confused by their own dis- 
obedience, will seek your counsel and guid- 
ance, with the inevitable result that ma- 
terial things must shape themselves for 
your welfare; and you experience keen joy 
in the realization that it was by Truth and 
Faith that you found this ideal sphere, and 
through the wholesome principle Love you 
are learning to serve mankind unselfishly. 
You may say, "But I am no fault-finder, 
I do not hate, and never seek revenge/' 
Splendid! But — are you indifferent as to 
the welfare of others? Do you live for 
yourself only, leaving a few worthless 
crumbs in your path for the less fortunate? 
If so, then there is another weed thriving 
in the garden of your personality. The 
weed of Selfishness is, indeed, a nasty 
growth, and just as destructive as any of 
the species. This weed, if allowed to grow, 
will entwine itself about all your material 
gains and destroy the real joys they would 
otherwise bring. The selfish have no 
friends but the selfish. 

"Misery Loves Company." 
Therefore search yourself deeply and sin- 
cerely. If there is any sign of this de- 
structive growth, then for your own hap- 
48 



piness and success weed it out and plant 
in its place a genuine interest toward your 
fellow-men. Reach out here and there, 
wherever it is possible and within your 
power — Do Good. It will be returned 
to you a hundredfold. 

"Our Saviour doth plainly witness that there 
should not be so much as a cup of cold water be- 
stowed without reward." — Hooker. 

But do not make the mistake of doing 
good for the sole purpose of being re- 
warded. Cultivate a sincere Love for 
mankind, forget the reward, and it will 
come all the sooner and without question. 

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least 
of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." — 
Christ. 

The law of Love, if practiced, brings 
astounding results. But it takes a little 
time, and by degrees only will the realiza- 
tion of this fact come upon you; neverthe- 
less, it is positive, and as time passes, 
greater and greater will be your reward. 

"Little by little the skies grow clear; 
Little by little the sun comes near; 
Little by little the days smile out, 
Gladder and brighter on pain and doubt; 
Little by little the seed we sow 
Into a beautiful yield will grow." 

49 



"But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand 
know what thy right hand doeth. That thine alms 
may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in se- 
cret Himself shall reward thee." — Christ. 

If therefore you do good for the sole pur- 
pose of seeking applause, then truly you 
have your reward, your vanity is satisfied 
and the thing ends there. But, if you do 
good for the sole purpose of doing good and 
keep the deed locked in your heart, the 
Divine recognizes your sincerity and you 
are rewarded in a permanent, substantial 
manner, which leads on to further prog- 
ress. Because of your genuine Love you 
are given more abundance — To Do More 
Good. Which of the two rewards will you 
choose? 

What a wonderful joy is found in being 
able to help others. But to be able to help 
others we must first learn to help our- 
selves. And as we learn and receive, it is 
vital for our continued progress — not to 
desert those less fortunate who are still 
groping in the dark, but to offer them our 
hand and guide them into the light which 
is ours. 

"A nameless man, amid a crowd 

That thronged the daily mart, 
Let fall a word of hope and love 

Unstudied, from the heart; 
A whisper on the tumult thrown, 

A transitory breath — 
5o 



It raised a brother from the dust. 

It saved a soul from death. 
O germ! O fount! O word of love! 

O thought at random cast! 
Ye were but little at the first, 

But mighty at the last." 

— Charles Mackay. 

Conscience, Truth, Faith, and Love — 
these are the instruments by which mortal 
man can find The Lighted Way! 

If you feel that you have been wronged 
by some one, don't lose your temper and 
immediately seek a plan of revenge. Re- 
main calm, do not talk of it to others, and 
when alone think it over carefully. Listen 
to the voice of your Conscience. Possibly 
you are partly to blame for the offender's 
actions. Never forget that every action on 
your part positively creates a reaction. 
If, therefore, your Conscience should dic- 
tate that you are partly to blame for the of- 
fense, then go to the offender, admit your 
mistake and nine times out of ten the 
wrong will at once right itself. The of- 
fender, through admiration of your sin- 
cerity, will see you in another light, regret 
what he has done, invariably become your 
friend, and in the future will often go out 
of his way to do you some good turn. Such 
is human nature. Is this method not far 
better than one of revenge? Try it and 
you will be convinced. 
5* 



On the other hand, should your Con- 
science satisfy you that the offender is en- 
tirely at fault, go to him and explain in 
kindly terms that you are deeply hurt by 
his actions, and that if you have done any- 
thing at any time which offended him, you 
did not do it purposely and regret the deed. 
This sincere attitude on your part will 
leave him defenseless, and if the offender 
has a spark of manhood in his make-up, it 
will be aroused. He will apologize and 
leave no stone unturned to right the wrong. 
Again you apply the positive method in- 
stead of the negative, destructive method 
of revenge. 

Should the offender in either case as- 
sume an arrogant, malicious attitude, do 
not argue, but smile and calmly leave him. 
Then try hard to forget the wrong, think- 
ing of it will only make it hurt the more. 
You did your part according to the whole- 
some principle Love, and just as sure as 
day follows night, justice will be your re- 
ward and some sort of punishment that of 
the offender. Feel assured that no offense 
or good deed escapes that wonderful knowl- 
edge of the Divine Intelligence; and that 
every living man reaps according to that 
which he has sown. Regardless as to how 
things may appear on the surface, this is 
law, and none can escape it. 
52 



Speak a cheerful word to all with whom 
you come in contact, encourage every good 
deed and thought of fellow-man. Forget 
the peculiarities of your friends, and love 
them for their good qualities. Above all, 
refuse to lend your ear or tongue to slan- 
der. It is the most vile and contemptible 
instrument of wickedness. 

"Slander, that worst of poisons, ever finds an 
easy entrance to ignoble minds." — Hervey. 

Mortal life is too short to be embittered 
by our crude and rash judgment. 

"Judge not! but rather in thy heart let gentle pity 

dwell; 
Man's judgment errs, but there is One who doeth 

all things well. 
Ever throughout the voyage of life, this precept 

keep in view: 
'Do unto others as thou wouldst that they should 

do to you.'" 

Live! Live by the wholesome principle 
Love and you will taste the sweetest fruits 
of life. Therefore, 

"In the very depths of yourself dig a grave, let it 
be like some forgotten spot to which no path leads; 
and there, in the eternal silence, bury the wrongs 
that you have suffered. Your heart will feel as if a 
weight had fallen from it, and a divine peace will 
come to abide with you." — Charles Wagner. 



53 



One of the richest men in the world, who 
is doing great good, said recently: "You 
take the men that start out in life to make 
a lot of money, they never make very 
much, ever notice that? Money doesn't 
mean anything to me; it never did. Any- 
one that knows me will tell you that." 
This man was once poor, but to-day has 
the second largest income in the world. 

Do not make gold your god, for if you 
do there can be but little Love in your 
heart. This is the pitiful mistake of most 
men. They stumble o'er life's path in a 
restless, nerve-racking quest in search of 
their false god. Whether they succeed in 
their foolish quest or not, in the end they 
discover that it was after all a rainbow 
trail, and that which they really wanted 
most is nowhere to be found; for the flower 
of Happiness grows and blossoms by the 
side of other ways: the ways of Conscience, 
Truth, Faith, and Love. And what is 
more, along these ways you will find with 
little difficulty sufficient treasures to take 
care of all your needs and clean desires, 
while another is breaking his life uncover- 
ing fool's gold. 

Man should be ambitious, but for his 
ultimate good his ambition must at all 
times follow the ways of righteousness. 



54 



The rainbow trail is stained with the blood- 
drops of many broken hearts. 

"We might with as much reason doubt whether 
the sun was intended to enlighten the earth, as 
whether He who has framed the human mind in- 
tended to announce righteousness to mankind as a 
law." — Blair. 

I shall relate a little experience which 
illustrates Love's tremendous part in the 
Divine plan. 

One summer morning my attention was 
called to the pitiful cry of a robin. From 
a window I observed the bird as it hopped 
from place to place in an excited manner, 
calling for help, as it seemed. I went into 
the yard and just as soon as the robin saw 
me it flew excitedly about my head in- 
creasing its cries. The actions of the robin 
puzzled me. I had never seen one carry on 
thus. The bird then hopped about my 
feet, flew a short distance, and eagerly con- 
tinued to call. I followed the robin and it 
actually led me to a place where a number 
of old boards had been carelessly thrown, 
and at this spot the bird's call was most 
incessant. As I moved the boards aside 
a cat darted past my feet and there I found 
a young dying robin. As I picked up the 
little bird the mother, now intensely ex- 
cited again, flew about my head. I laid 
the baby bird in the sunlight, hoping that 
55 



it might revive. The mother, ever calling, 
hopped about the little robin, then was 
joined by its mate. Later realizing, as it 
seemed, that death had claimed their loved 
one the birds flew to a nearby tree and for 
the balance of the day remained there, 
crying, crying, revealing in a most touch- 
ing manner the Divine principle Love. 

In the tiny heart of the bird God placed 
Love (some call it instinct), otherwise the 
bird would not build its nest, feed its 
young, and so anxiously seek their wel- 
fare. Could the little helpless birds thrive, 
grow, and become a part of the whole un- 
less the old ones fed and guarded them 
until they could fly alone? Certainly not! 
Can you conceive that the Divine, who 
placed Love in the tiny heart of a bird for 
the continued welfare of that species, would 
place it in man's heart if it were not meant 
for his welfare and happiness? For no 
other reason than happiness and progress 
has the Divine placed love in the human 
heart, and by happiness and progress man 
comes into his own. The greater man's 
love for fellow-man, the more genuine is his 
life, and the more genuine a man's life the 
more successful and happy he lives, be- 
cause genuineness is the state and char- 
acter of the Divine. 

By helping others we help ourselves. 
56 



The man who serves best is most in de- 
mand, and to serve best we must be sin- 
cere, and sincerity toward fellow-man is 
Love. 

"I came from low down, from the cellar of life, 
where darkness and terror reign, where man is half 
beast and life is only a fight for bread. It flows 
slowly there, in dark streams, but even there gleam 
pearls of courage, of intelligence, of heroism; even 
there beauty and Love exist. Everywhere that man 
is found good is; in tiny particles and invisible roots 
— but still it is there. All these roots will not perish; 
some will grow and flourish and bear fruit. I bought 
dearly the right to believe this; therefore it is mine, 
my whole life long." — From Gorky's suppressed 
novel, "The Peasants." 

Those who ignore the principle Love are 
surely on the rainbow trail. "Ye shall 
seek me and not find me." Their fool's 
gold will never buy that which they seek 
most, for happiness is found along another 
road. 

"Where there is Faith — there is Love. 
Where there is Love — there is Peace. 
Where there is Peace — there is Blessing. 
Where there is Blessing — there is GOD, 
Where GOD — there is no want." 



57 



PASS IT ON 

Have you had a kindness shown ? 

Pass it on. 
'Twas not given to you alone, 

Pass it on. 
Let it travel down the years, 
Let it wipe another's tears 
Till in heaven the deed appears — 

Pass it on. 

Have you found the heavenly light? 

Pass it on. 
Souls are groping in the night — 

Daylight gone. 
Hold thy lighted lamp on high: 
Be a star in someone's sky. 
He may live who else would die — 

Pass it on. 

— Henry Burton. 



THE 
POTENT PRINCIPLE— ORDER 

Your life must be organized. The very- 
planets in the heavens disclose this law, 
and thereby prove that the universe could 
not be sustained if it were not for the po- 
tent principle, Order. 

In the Divine plan there is no confusion, 
all things move deliberately for a progres- 
sive purpose. Just so it must be in your 
e very-day life if you desire to live on pro- 
gressively. It is your choice to govern 
yourself in an orderly way according to 
the laws of progress, or in an indifferent 
manner, which leads you ever deeper and 
deeper into a maze of doubt and confusion. 

To reap the full benefits of Conscience, 
Truth, Faith, and Love it is wise to obey 
the law of Order. You will agree that no 
business or organization can go forward 
contrary to this law. The decay from 
within weakens the structure and a col- 
lapse is inevitable. Just so it is with the 
individual man, therefore begin at once to 
set your life in Order. 
61 



It is tremendously beneficial to live ac- 
cording to this principle. In so living your 
vital energies are stored, released at the 
proper time, and function with most ef- 
fective force. For example, some men do 
more and better work in five hours than 
others do in ten, and in the identical field. 
Why? Because the poor worker does not 
understand the law of Order. He does not 
concentrate. When at work he is dream- 
ing of what he will do when at play, and 
when at play he worries over what he has 
failed to accomplish while at work. In 
this manner he spoils the keen joy and 
good results he would otherwise obtain 
from both, by allowing the intercourse of 
the two. 

On the other hand, the man understand- 
ing this law allows nothing to interfere with 
that which is at hand. When he works 
he works with all sincerity, and when this 
man plays, ah! — his laughter is good to 
hear, for it is like that of the boy who 
knows no care. 

Work and play are two mighty conflict- 
ing elements — therefore do not allow their 
intercourse, for it weakens both, taking 
away the joy and the good that each 
should bring. Some may say, "My work 
is pleasure and play for me." Indeed it 
should be a pleasure, but if it is also play, 
62 



then wake up! You are not doing much 
worth while. Work and play are separate 
and distinct, but one depends upon the 
other, and each should have its time and 
place in a life where progress and happi- 
ness is the aim. 

If you are dissatisfied with your present 
occupation and feel that you will never 
learn to like it, then seek some field of en- 
deavor which strongly appeals to you. 
Having found it, put your whole self into 
each day's work, eliminating all other 
thoughts which might weaken the effect- 
iveness of your efforts. But when the day's 
work is done, completely forget it. Close 
the gates of that reservoir and give it a 
chance to reaccumulate energy. Seek 
play! Be like the school boy who flings his 
books in a corner, takes his ball, top, or 
kite, and with a song on his lips finds a 
wonderful joy in just being alive. The 
simplest things teach the greatest lessons. 

The law of Order is basically this: Di- 
vide your life into two parts, Work and 
Play, and at no time allow the intercourse 
of the two. When you work — work; when 
you play — play! By this method man also 
retains his youth, for in this way he does 
not lose interest in work nor in play. To re- 
main youthful it is vital to retain a keen 
interest in life, and an interesting life is 
63 



made up of the right amount of both work 
and play. Of course, man cannot tramp 
this earth forever, but in this manner he 
invariably retains health and lives longer, 
which is the keenest desire of mind next to 
success and happiness. 

Finding the way of progress through 
Conscience, Truth, Faith, and Love, is it 
not also wise to adopt the principle Order? 

It is an inspiration to know a youthful 
man of seventy years or more. Some are 
amused at this type, but for myself I am 
delighted and comforted in his presence, 
knowing that I, too, can be like him, re- 
taining the spirit of youth in spite of the 
years as they creep slowly but surely upon 
me. Such a man will tell you that his life 
has been divided into two parts. Honest 
work and the wholesome joy of clean play. 

Success is not a question of how much 
knowledge you can cram into your head, 
neither does it depend upon a college educa- 
tion nor a university training. The majority 
of successful men have had little or no train- 
ing of this kind. Success is more the result 
of a right conception of life and those laws 
which govern progress. 

Man must discover himself and realize 
that by obeying constructive principles he 
places himself squarely in the path of prog- 
ress. And as Order is one of these con- 
64 



structive principles it is well that you de- 
termine to obey its law and at once pro- 
ceed to organize your life. 

Begin to-night with your plan of organ- 
ization. Promptly at ten o'clock retire. 
Once in bed lie squarely upon your back 
and consciously relax. Then say to your- 
self with all sincerity: "I am happy, for at 
last I have discovered myself. Through 
Conscience I hear the voice Divine. 
Through Truth I am free. Through Faith 
I am strong. Through Love I can close 
my eyes in wholesome sleep like the child 
at peace with God and man." 

From Spring until Fall arise promptly 
at five o'clock, and let these few words be 
your mighty prayer: 

"Dear God, let this day pass without a 
blemish to mar the beauty of my soul, 
which Thou hast cleansed." 

Now look out upon the sky and earth 
and breathe deeply. Should there be a 
bird near by, listen attentively for a while 
to its song. Now go through a brief course 
of exercises. 

"The wise for cure on exercise depend, 
God never made his work for man to mend." 
— Dry den. 

After exercising prepare your own break- 
fast (this will depend upon environment); 
you will, however, enjoy it. 
5 65 



Now comes your precious hour of medi- 
tation. The early morning hour has 
mighty power. At this time the mind is 
rested, clear, receptive, and with its re- 
stored energy quickly solves the most 
difficult problems. This is the hour in 
which to make your decisions. It is also 
an exceptional time for reading. Read the 
masters, and the biography of men whose 
lives were a blessing to mankind, and do 
not overlook the greatest of them all, Jesus 
Christ. And before the hour closes read 
again, slowly and carefully, the first chap- 
ter of this volume. And in like manner 
each morning read another until you have 
gone through the book a dozen times, for it 
is the product of hard knocks, much 
thought, sincerity, and actual experience. 

Now as other individuals come into the 
new day and your life, greet them with a 
cheery "Good-morning" and smile in a 
way that will make them love you. And 
then, as you take up your daily task, enter 
into the work wholeheartedly. Do not be 
provoked if anyone disturbs you, be 
courteous, but at the same time allow the 
person to feel that you are busy. This in- 
variably produces the desired effect, and 
the disturber, without being offended, 
leaves you to proceed with your work. Be 
66 



patient, for you yourself may have in the 
past disturbed in a like manner. 

When the day's work is done close your 
desk, lay away your tools or whatever 
your occupation may be — completely for- 
get it. Those faculties taxed throughout 
the workday must have rest. When the 
day's work is done let it be done! Do not 
dissipate those energies which should be 
restored for the work of the following day. 
This is essential for your progress, health, 
and happiness. 

Realize It! Believe It! Do It! 

There are many ways in finding restful 
pleasure after working hours. A good 
book, the companionship of a genuine 
friend, a chat with your neighbor, a lecture, 
a clean play, a walk through the fields or 
wood, a flower, the beauties of a sunset, 
and when darkest clouds are rolling over- 
head; learn to admire this mighty element 
drifting between earth and sky, for it is 
nothing more than a part of the wondrous 
whole. There are innumerable things on 
every side to give us restful joy. It is all 
in how we live. 

I have discovered many little things 

which bring me much wholesome pleasure. 

But it has not always been so, for I once 

followed the rainbow trail. The wounds 

67 



have healed, but the scars are still upon 
my heart. Somehow, above the noise of 
the tumult I heard the voice of Conscience 
and it led me on to the way of Truth, 
Faith, Love, and Order. Would I turn 
back for all the wealth a false god could 
offer? I leave it for you to answer. 

The way is open for every man, for all. 
Will you continue on the rainbow trail or 
take The Lighted Way? 

"Every day is a fresh beginning: 
Every day is a world made new; 
You who are weary of sorrow and sinning, 
Here is a beautiful hope /or you." 



68 



SENSE OF HUMOR 

"Let the howler howl and the growler growl, and the 
prowlers prowl, and the gee-gaws go it; 
Behind the night there is plenty of light, and things 
are all right and — I know it." 

When the clouds were blackest and the 
fate of this the grandest nation of earth 
hung in the balance, that wonderful man, 
Abraham Lincoln, in his serene way, would 
look into the downcast faces all about him, 
smile and tell a humorous tale. Statesmen 
were astounded at this homely rail-splitter, 
who dared smile in the face of apparent 
disaster. But the tranquil soul of the man 
knew the power of Faith, knew that above 
the clouds the sun is perpetually shining; 
knew that the Divine has never allowed a 
just cause permanently to go down before 
an unjust one. 

It was the immortal Lincoln's sincere 
belief that if we live in harmony with 
Truth, Faith, and Love, and at all times 
retain our sense of Humor, things would 
positively work out for our good. In this 
manner the great Lincoln made patience 
easy, and reinforced his Faith for every 
69 



hour of trial; not many souls have passed 
through greater trials. 

Therefore, when the clouds hide the sun- 
shine for a space and you find yourself in 
the shadow, by all means hang on to your 
sense of Humor ", renew your vow of Faith, be 
patient, and things will positively adjust 
themselves for your good. 

When life appears to be going against us 
our first inclination is to frown and become 
irritable. This state of mind causes con- 
fusion and leads to despair, throwing us 
out of harmony with Faith. We lose the 
power of receptiveness and are unable to 
receive the Divine message and strength 
which would otherwise lead us out of the 
darkness back into the light. 

On the other hand, when things seem 
all wrong and we hold onto Faith, reinforce 
it with our sense of Humor, our smile of 
confidence, we retain our receptive mood 
and positively (very often swiftly) receive 
the intelligence to solve those problems 
confronting us. 

The most ridiculous fault of most men 
is their vanity. Their ego has led them to 
believe that man is the highest type of in- 
telligence in existence, when in reality 
man's existence is but a privilege granted 
by that Intelligence which guides the very 
planet upon which mankind exists. What 
70 



man or group of men could swerve the 
earth one hand's breadth from its course. 

"Hath God not made foolish the wisdom of this 
world." — Paul. 

Life, Intelligence, Talents, in fact all 
that man possesses is the gift of the Divine. 
Man is a part of the great plan and can 
only play his part well when he has found 
harmony with that Intelligence which 
guides and knows the secret of the whole. 

The most amusing character is the man 
affected by the all-importance of himself. 
He is the clown of clowns, for he has lost 
the joy of life, because he believes that 
without him things could hardly go on, 
forgetting that the shoes upon his feet, the 
clothes upon his back, in fact everything 
with which he comes in contact, even his 
body, is a product of an earth existing ages 
before he left his mother's womb and with 
a "squeal" drew the first breath of life. 
Such a type, and upon the earth there are 
many like him, regardless of wealth, power, 
or position, is to be pitied. Why? Be- 
cause of his vain self-esteem he has lost his 
sense of Humor. He is actually afraid to 
laugh for fear that it might weaken his dig- 
nity and lead others to believe that he has 
no responsibilities and is unimportant. 

Can you comprehend this ridiculous and 
71 



most false state? Men very often, after 
winning what they imagine is success, de- 
velop such a condition of mind; there are 
many of this type. 

The man who has lost his sense of Hu- 
mor and can no longer laugh is in a de- 
plorable state, a condition actually border- 
ing on the very edges of insanity and the 
grave. Therefore it is important, if you 
wish to live successfully, that you retain 
always your sense of Humor. Of course, 
there are times for seriousness and also 
solemnity, but do not allow any occurrence 
or condition to so burden your mind that 
you lose your sense of Humor. 

Do not look upon life too seriously. It is 
only a burden if you make it so. Why does 
a bird fly to the topmost branches of a tree 
and sing so joyfully? Think this over. 
My answer is that the little life, knowing 
no sham nor make-believe, is in perfect 
harmony with the Divine plan, and there- 
fore finds what most men strive a lifetime 
for and never find — "Happiness." In 
this simple manner God holds before us 
constantly a great Truth. 

You know and will not deny that after 
a hearty laugh you actually feel refreshed, 
lighter of spirit, and more vigorous. This 
proves that laughter is beneficial to both 
spirit and body, and what is beneficial to 
72 



spirit and body is certainly most beneficial 
to progress. Therefore, as progress and 
happiness are your basic desires, realize 
that a sense of Humor is far more helpful 
than an attitude of ultra seriousness. 

Learn to laugh and to laugh often. Look 
about, observe life, and you will be sur- 
prised by the many amusing incidents 
which occur on every side. You will be- 
gin to view mortal existence from a differ- 
ent angle and wonder why so many people 
go through life with a frown on their faces. 

"There's joy a-plenty in this world to fill life's silver 
cup, 
If you'll only keep the corners of your mouth 
turned up." 

Never allow your sense of Humor to of- 
fend. A friend may have some amusing 
peculiarity; we can secretly enjoy this 
without giving offense and actually love 
him all the more because this very pe- 
culiarity is a part of his personality. For 
example, we are often amused by the day 
dreams of a boy, but we do not tell him so, 
because those very dreams are the boy, the 
personality we love so well. Man is but a 
full-grown boy. 

Avoid the tragic, the morbid side of life 
as much as possible. Never read nor listen 
to a description of crime. By their diso- 
bedience of Divine law, men sink to the 
73 



lowest planes of life, into the shadows of 
misery and despair. A criminal mind is 
the deplorable result of disobedience. By 
reading or listening to a description of 
crime you temporarily leave the ideal plane 
of life and drop to a lower plane. A reac- 
tion takes place and the more often this 
occurs the more difficult it is to retain your 
equilibrium. This fact is most clearly 
demonstrated by witnessing a play that 
deals mostly with crime. You leave the 
theater in a depressed manner and it takes 
some time before the ugliness of that which 
you saw leaves your mind. 

Why darken your existence by seeking 
the shadows, stay in the sunlight of ideal 
life, for even there an occasional cloud 
passes, such as the loss of a loved one, a 
friend, or finding a widow and her children 
in poverty. Tears that fall for these are 
the purest gems of Love and will not tend 
to lower your plane of life but serve to 
make it more ideal. 

Sensational divorces, extravagant hi- 
larities of the idle rich, robberies, murders 
and the like are all in one pot and should 
be dumped with the balance of the refuse. 
The mind is the garden of your soul, keep 
it clean. Continuous contact with in- 
iquity through reading or in any other 
manner develops brain cells accordingly, 
74 



and not only tends to weaken your sense 
of Humor, but retards the growth of your 
personality, thereby holding you back from 
that which you desire most, clean success 
and genuine happiness. 

Seek ever for the pleasant and elevating 
things of life. There is always more sun- 
shine than rain; remember this and retain 
your sense of Humor. 

Learn to discriminate between all things 
which are directly responsible for success 
or for failure, compare them and then 
choose those which tend to lead us on to 
better things, and discard those which are 
destructive in their action. For instance, 
the direct opposite of a sense of Humor is a 
sense of Ultra Seriousness. The first keeps 
the mind in a healthy mood, simplifies our 
daily tasks, makes friends for us, brightens 
our lives generally, and lends to progress 
and happiness. While the second is a con- 
tinuous drain on vitality, takes the joy out 
of work, darkens our outlook upon life, 
and leads to morbidness. This is a most 
destructive disease, eventually eating its 
way into the heart and soul of man. 

Therefore view all things which may be 
responsible for your success or failure in 
this light. 



75 





Exam 


ple: 




Construction; 


its direct 


opposite. 


, Destruction 


Truth; 


« « 


" 


Deceit. 


Faith; 


« <« 


" 


Doubt, Worry. 


Love; 


<< a 


" 


Hate. 


Order; 






Indifference, 
Chaos. 


Sense of Humor; 






Ultra Serious- 
ness. 


Moderation; 


" " 


" 


Excess 


Use; 


" " 


" 


Abuse. 


Etc. 









In viewing things in this light, the light of 
comparison, you obtain a clear conception 
of the factors which oppose each other and 
go to make up the element of constructive- 
ness and that of destructiveness. You 
realize fully that on the one side lies Suc- 
cess, while on the other side lies Failure. 
And as you form this habit of viewing 
things in this way it becomes an easy mat- 
ter after a while to quickly choose those of 
constructiveness, for you readily see that 
the others are those of destructiveness. 

This method, if applied, gives you im- 
mense power because by it you fully 
realize that there are two great elements 
which control life, and by comparison you 
gain the wisdom to choose, retaining what 
is good for your progress and casting aside 
that which is harmful and destructive. In 
this manner you acquire a clear concep- 
76 



tion of life. You can calmly compare all 
things and with confidence wisely choose 
only those which build a personality, that 
vibrates with power, attracts success, and 
wins for mortal existence the greatest prize 
of all, "Happiness. " 

Now that we see by comparison that a 
sense of Humor, as well as Truth, Faith, 
Love, and Order, is a logical requirement 
for success, is it not folly to go on living 
day by day in a mood of ultra seriousness ? 
You may say,"But I am not extremely 
serious ;" possibly not, most men are and 
do not realize it. You may be one of these. 
Let us see. Look into a mirror and study 
your face, then ask yourself the following 
questions : 

"Do my eyes sparkle with a genuine joy 
of life? How often do I hum or whistle 
some familiar melody? Do I laugh from 
my heart or just emit a funny noise? Can 
I tell a good, clean story in a way that 
others enjoy it? Are my acquaintances 
desirous of conversing with me or do they 
merely say, 'Howdy' and pass on? Does 
the mischief of a neighbor's boy annoy me 
or bring fond memories of a time in my own 
life?" These are a few test questions, an- 
swer them sincerely and the truth of one 
of two things will grip you; either you pos- 
77 



sess a sense of Humor or you are living in a 
mood of Ultra Seriousness. 

An old man once said, "I have had many 
troubles in my life, but most of them never 
happened." Remember this. 

Life presents its problems; it would not 
be worth while otherwise, but an overdose 
of seriousness magnifies them, and in this 
manner we are often cowed by an imagi- 
nary giant and in the dread of our illusion 
turn back on the road of progress. There- 
fore, at all times retain your sense of Hu- 
mor, have Faith, and you will calmly view 
life's problems in their true light, unafraid, 
whereas ultra seriousness gives them the 
appearance of barriers to block your way, 
when in reality they are nothing more than 
the stepping-stones on the road of greater 
progress. 

"Writers of every age have endeavored to show 
that pleasure is in us and not in the objects offered 
for our amusement. If the soul be happily disposed, 
everything becomes capable of offering entertain- 
ment, and distress will almost want a name." — 
Oliver Goldsmith. 

It is said of Benjamin Franklin: 

"His cheerfulness spread around him a perpetual 
spring. It was unremitting and seemed to be as 
much the effect of a systematic and salutary exer- 
cise of the mind as of its superior organization. His 
wit was of the first order. It did not show itself 

78 



merely in occasional coruscations; but without any 
effort or force on his part it shed a constant stream 
of purest light over the whole of his discourse." 

Everyone is familiar with the humor of the 
immortal Lincoln, and of Washington we 
read: 

"He seldom attempted sallies of wit or humor, 
but no man received more pleasure from an exhibi- 
tion of them by others." 

Chauncy Depew, one of America's fore- 
most men, on his eighty-sixth birthday 
said: 

"The only thing that worries me is whether I shall 
be a success in life." 

Mr. Depew's sense of Humor is so keen 
people wonder if it is possible for him to be 
serious. He tells us that both his father 
and his grandfather died of worry, and 
that, when a young man, he firmly de- 
cided not to allow worry to bring about his 
destruction. 

We are all familiar with the Roosevelt 
smile and Humor. 

As we study the lives of great men we 
learn that most of them, yes, more than 
ninety per cent, possessed a keen sense of 
Humor. Big men know that it holds the 
balance in the scale of life. A man may 
have a measure of success without it, but 
he seldom reaches the heights or remains 
79 



there if he does, because without a sense of 
Humor as a stimulant he falls under the 
weight of responsibilities which rest upon 
all those who rise to leadership. 

A body of men will do better and more 
work under the guidance of a man pos- 
sessing a sense of Humor than they would 
otherwise do if the same man allowed him- 
self and those under him to be burdened 
by a sense of Ultra Seriousness. 

There is a vast difference between se- 
riousness and Ultra Seriousness. Let us 
view them in the light of comparison. The 
first is rational, orderly, and functions to 
keep the mind properly tuned. The other 
is irrational, improper, disastrous. Its 
constant and excessive action evolves a 
course of decay and the body becomes a 
fertile field for all the opposing elements 
of destruction. 

In other words, the man, by his wrong 
conception, actually destroys the joy of 
life and very often breaks down com- 
pletely under his self-imposed burden of 
Ultra Seriousness. 

If you saw a man planting thistles and 
he told you in all sincerity that from them 
he expected a crop of wheat, you would 
leave him and say to yourself, "He's a 
fool!" But, my friend, ponder. Are you 
sure you are not doing likewise ? Remem- 
80 



ber always and let this fact sink into your 
very existence, that you reap just as you 
sow. This is a positive law and cannot be 
overcome by any living man. If, there- 
fore, you sincerely desire success, there is 
but one method and none other. Uproot 
the weeds of failure, turn the soil with the 
plow of Truth, and with the same Faith 
that you would plant a grain of mustard 
seed plant likewise the seeds of Love, Or- 
der, Humor, Friendship, and you will live 
to enjoy a plentiful harvest. 

There is no argument against this theory, 
because it has been handed down to us by 
the noblest souls that have ever passed 
our way. 



81 



To have a true friend is a blessing indeed. To be 
without one is deplorable. The man who possesses 
all else but lacks the possession of a heart bound in 
friendship is the poorest of mortals. — The Author. 



FRIENDSHIP 

'"He is my friend!' The words 
Brought summer and the birds; 
And all my winter — time 
Thawed into running rhyme 
And rippled into song, 
Warm, tender, brave, and strong." 

—Riley. 

Through friendship we gain immeasur- 
ably. It is vital to realize how essential 
is Friendship for progress, happiness, and 
comfort. But it is most important that 
we use discretion in selecting our friends, 
aiming always to gain the friendship of 
progressive individuals of high ideals. By 
so doing we add to our own confidence the 
confidence and assistance of progressive 
men of moral habits, which results in giv- 
ing us more strength to hold to our own 
ideals, and more energy to push forward 
for the realization of our desires and ambi- 
tions. 

In other words, a clean, sincere, and pro- 
gressive friend will understand the sin- 
cerity of your purpose, and because of his 
love for morality, sincerity, and progress, 
will be desirous of assisting you; for in you 
83 



he finds that which is most pleasing to his 
own personality. 

In this manner you add a new force to 
that of your own, which gives you greater 
energy and more aggressiveness than you 
would otherwise possess. This assisting 
force can be increased according to the 
number of men of this type whose Friend- 
ship you can acquire and hold. 

In this world each individual, if he gov- 
erns himself properly, is a unit of vital 
force, and a number of such human units, 
sincerely working for a result, more easily 
accomplish it. Thus all great and good 
things have been and are accomplished. 

True Friendship is one of the rare gems 
of life, and its wonderful influence is known 
to all who have learnt the secret of success- 
ful living. Doctor Johnson said: 

"No quality will get a man more friends than a 
sincere admiration of the qualities of others. It in- 
dicates generosity of nature, frankness, cordiality, 
and cheerful recognition of merit." 

To cultivate the Friendship of progres- 
sive, moral men, one must live Truth, Faith, 
Love, Order, and always retain one's sense 
of Humor. Friendship depends upon 
character. The clean, progressive man 
does not desire the Friendship of one who 
is immoral, indifferent, or morbid. He 
84 



quickly detects insincerity and knows 'that 
this type desires his Friendship only for a 
selfish purpose. Neither does he wish the 
company of one who lives in the shadow 
and growls at the sunshine. 

By little deeds of kindness and a sincere 
willingness to serve for the good of others 
a man proves that he is bigger than the 
average, and by this mode of life he may 
reveal himself to those whose Friendship 
he should acquire. 

"Scatter thus your seeds of kindness 
All enriching as you go — 
Leave them. Trust the Harvest-Giver; 
He will make each seed to grow. 
So, until the happy end, 
Your life shall never lack a friend." 

This little poem was the favorite of a most 
successful man." 

Once you have won the Friendship of 
clean and progressive men, opportunities 
for progress frequently present themselves. 
It is then up to you to remain loyal and 
continue to live according to those prin- 
ciples which first cleared the way and led 
you on to the better things of life. 

Observe closely and you will discover 
that progressive men of clean habits in- 
variably associate with men of like habits. 
For example: Edison, Ford, Burroughs, 
and Firestone. 

85 



Often you will find a gray-haired man 
of wealth and power and a young man who 
is just beginning life, very much attached. 
Why? Personality is the answer. The 
successful man sees in the youth a sin- 
cerity of purpose, a life governing itself in 
a progressive and moral manner. It is this 
which each sees in the other, and it is 
this which has drawn them and holds them 
together. The sincerity and enthusiasm 
of the youth is a genuine delight to the suc- 
cessful man of declining years. He loves 
contact with this type of youth, for it helps 
him to retain his grip upon all that is now 
most dear to him — the past — his youth. 
And the younger man, by close contact 
with the older and experienced man, adds 
strength, inspiration, aggressiveness, and 
opportunity to his life, all of which is cer- 
tainly most beneficial for his progress. 

Men fail to appreciate fully the tremen- 
dous value of Friendship. In the first 
place, they do not realize what it is. If 
they did there would be more happiness 
and less despair. True Friendship is a 
condition between individuals, where each 
is desirous of the other's well-being, where 
every success, joy, or sorrow is mutual, and 
because of its great influence for good cre- 
ates a state between men, which meets 
with the highest approval of the Divine, 
86 



and therefore takes the form of a direct 
blessing. But sincerity is the keynote of 
Friendship, and only those who live ac- 
cording to Truth, Faith, and Love will 
ever experience this sublime blessing and 
inexpressible comfort of the soul, without 
which, regardless of any material gain, life 
is a failure. 

The man who smiles cunningly and says, 
"The dollar is my best friend,' ' reminds 
one of a serpent with its mouth open and 
its poisonous fangs ready to strike. No 
man can think thus and live in harmony 
with the Divine, and therefore this type, 
if he means what he says, will some day 
awake to find his life as barren as the sun- 
baked desert of Sahara. 

Without its sweet fragrance the honey- 
suckle would hardly be appreciated: and 
just as fragrance adds its fascinating 
charm to the flower, so Friendship adds 
likewise to life. 

It is a great pity that so many men fail 
to appreciate the strength, the comfort, 
and the happiness which true Friendship 
brings. The more clean and progressive 
friends a man has the less resistance he 
finds and the easier is his way of progress. 
Why most men fail to realize this fact is 
odd indeed. There seems but one answer 
and it is this: In the first place, all those 
87 



living in opposition to Divine law lack the 
wisdom to grasp this truth; in the second 
place, by so living they have developed 
a personality contrary to Truth, Faith, 
Love, Order, and in their confusion, which 
is the inevitable result, have lost faith in 
themselves and mankind generally. Their 
suspicion and mistrust of all others reacts 
in a like attitude of others toward them. 
In short, they lack the essential qualities 
which are necessary to gain and retain the 
Friendship of men who are living on a 
higher plane of life. 

There does exist between men who live 
contrary to law a sham form of Friendship, 
but observe how quickly it melts into thin 
air, and how these men betray and desert 
each other in a time of trial. While on the 
other hand, the Friendship between moral 
men grows stronger in their hour of trial. 
These men, because of their high ideals, 
never entertain the selfish thoughts of the 
coward and stand loyally by each other to 
the end. Any other form of Friendship is 
but a make-believe, a crude imitation of 
that which is genuine. 

Just as the sunshine brings forth all the 
beauty and strength and charm from the 
heart of nature, so likewise true Friend- 
ship brings forth all the beauty and 
strength and charm from the soul of man. 



Love is the mother of sincerity, and it is 
sincerity and sincerity alone which leads 
men into that sublime and most beautiful 
realm of genuine Friendship. Search for it 
in the mists of deceit, if you will, but it is 
only found upon the heights of ideal life, 
where the very breath of God adds im- 
measurably to the growth of all who, by 
their obedience of His laws, have entered 
therein. 

The full realization of what Friendship 
means to life should grip you. It should 
inspire you with an intense desire to live 
in such a manner that those who have 
proved their genuineness will admit you 
into its wholesome realm. Once there no 
one can predict the measure of your suc- 
cess. You may rise to the very heights of 
life. 

True Friendship has opened the way for 
the most humble children of Sincerity, and 
by its added force they rose to greatness. 
Upon the pages of history there are many 
examples which reveal this mighty truth. 

The man who fully appreciates the 
power of Friendship, and who through 
right living establishes it between himself 
and moral, progressive men, moves for- 
ward with that irresistible current which 
carries on to success. 

Aim high for the Friendship you should 



acquire; nine-tenths of all big men were 
poor at one time and possibly started life 
from a plane lower than your own. But it 
was their mode of right living which gave 
them the Friendship of other substantial 
individuals, without which it would hardly 
have been possible for them to have 
reached the heights. 

There is a belief among men that a man 
never has friends until he succeeds, and it 
is just such a belief that keeps men down. 
For it is through the channel of Friendship 
that we are led, or by which we may lead 
others to the opportunities which are con- 
stantly developing on every side of prog- 
ress. 

Men of splendid ability often are utter 
failures because they lack either the wis- 
dom or are too selfish to make friends. 
There is another type, who, realizing his 
ability gives full sway to conceit, has no 
respect for the views of others, and by this 
attitude repels every opportunity which 
would otherwise present itself. 

True Friendship between moral men is 
as broad as the sky, as deep as the sea, as 
wholesome to the soul of man as the sun- 
shine and the rain is to all of nature. 

Friendship is positively a success factor, 
and very often the key by which the first 
door to real progress is unlocked. Many 
90 



men, handicapped by a lack of education 
but possessing a full measure of sincerity 
toward fellow-man, have found much 
through Friendship they otherwise would 
not have gained. 

To rise we must adopt such a mode of 
life which will in its action give strength, 
wisdom, courage, and comfort to the soul; 
and by heeding Conscience, living Truth, 
Faith, Love, Order, retaining our sense of 
Humor, and by acquiring the Friendship 
of moral, progressive men this is accom- 
plished and we have but one result, Suc- 
cess. 

Therefore, aim always to live right — the 
higher your ideals the more splendid will 
be your success and the more complete 
your happiness. Offer your hand to those 
groping in the dark, but choose for your 
friends only those who know the depth and 
the breadth of sincerity, and, above all, 
be a Friend in every sense of the word. 



9* 



"Oh, God! that men would see a little clearer; 
Or judge less harshly where they cannot see! 
Oh, God ! that men would draw a little nearer 
To one another! They'd be nearer Thee." 

— Bracken. 



THE REALIZATION OF NATURE 

"I read each misty mountain sign, 
I know the voice of wave and pine, 
And I am yours, and ye are mine." 

—Whittier. 

Has the spell of Nature's fascinating 
charm ever gripped your soul? Do you 
know that sublime peace which Nature 
like a great mother-heart offers to the tired 
children of earth ? Have you gained wis- 
dom and strength by losing yourself in the 
heart of Nature and becoming a part of 
the wondrous whole? If not, then you 
should seek Nature, its hills, its fields, its 
forests, and awake to these things, for they 
will aid immeasurably the growth of your 
personality. 

Allow me to impress once more, if suc- 
cess and happiness is your great desire, 
that you must always seek those things 
which will broaden, strengthen, and add 
wisdom to your life. 

It is a known fact that men who have 

had the greatest measure of success and 

did most for mankind were born in the 

heart of Nature, the children of plain 

95 



farmer folk. Early in life, under the spell 
of Nature's magic influence, these men ac- 
quired personalities which later carried 
them to greatness. In youth Nature 
taught them the wisdom of Truth, the 
strength of Faith, and the power of Love. 

Every man who is desirous of living a 
successful life should seek Nature, woo its 
charms, and profit by its great influence 
upon the soul for good. 

If you live in the heart of a city (it 
would be far better you found a place in 
the suburbs) from spring until fall you 
should spend as much time as possible 
among the hills or fields beyond the 
walled-up streets. Traction lines lead to 
where Nature abounds. Equip yourself 
with good walking shoes, a kodak, and 
metal lunch-box (often a splendid meal can 
be purchased for a reasonable amount in 
the country, and frequently a delightful 
Friendship develops in this way). Once 
you have taken up these trips in the quest 
of Nature and learn to know the spell of 
its mystic charm you will begin to feel like 
a new person, born into a new and better 
world. 

The automobile has done much for 

the average man. It has brought joy 

to many hearts and new strength to 

many tired mothers, who so faithfully toil 

96 



all week for those they love. It has made 
it possible for thousands and thousands of 
people to come close to Nature, which, 
without question, will have a most bene- 
ficial effect upon future generations. 

It should be the aim of every married 
man to own an automobile of some make 
and take his family into the open places 
as often as possible. These little family 
excursions into Nature have a telling effect 
upon home life. 

It is good for man to occasionally seek 
Nature alone. Indeed, it is most bene- 
ficial and should be done. Dawn is a won- 
derful, inspiring time. One morning in 
June the following thoughts came to me 
very rapidly as I observed Nature re- 
sponding to the call of day. 

The golden dawn the Morn recalls, 

And dew from rising Nature falls, 

A robin sings his songs in tune 

To drifting clouds mid skies of June. 

The morning glory opens wide 

Its azure cup on every side, 

The lilies rise in answer, too, 

Of calling Morn and sparkling dew. 

A butterfly finds life to-day 

And flutters softly on its way. 

In wondrous, splendid light of Morn 

God lets another day be born. 

I had never tried writing a poem before, 
nor had any intention of writing one that 
7 97 



morning, but suddenly these thoughts 
came and I put them down and am merely 
quoting them here to show how Nature's 
environments affects the mind and causes 
it to coin thoughts which are wholesome 
and stimulating. 

"As a man thinketh^ in his heart so is he." 
Therefore, to get the best out of life one 
should always seek those things which in- 
spire and produce salutary and progressive 
thought. 

In the spring and summer months it is 
immensely beneficial to rise early and be- 
hold the wondrous spectacle which Nature 
stages at dawn, when the heavens are clear. 
You will observe how the intense blue sky 
softens and the stars go to rest, and how 
the fascinating transfiguration goes on 
changing the wonders of night to the won- 
ders of dawn. How the sky turns softly 
gray and faint streaks of gold and crimson 
appear in the east and gradually grow and 
blend into a solid mass of wondrous light, 
which makes the dew-drops sparkle like 
innumerable diamonds. Then, suddenly 
as it seems, all things take life. We hear 
the chirp of a bird. It is the commence- 
ment of Nature's grand anthem. The song 
of a robin blends sweetly with the sublime 
peace, and is soon followed by the bluebird 
and all the different species, and a great 
98 



vocal chorus begins. The whole of Nature 
seems to ring with gladness, until the blush 
of dawn melts into the full light of morn. 
Now the lord of day appears on the horizon 
and slowly, as he rises, transforms the fas- 
cinating spectacle with his wondrous rays 
of light. 

To witness this marvelous sight is most 
inspiring and will give to the soul of a 
thinking man an inexpressible strength. 
He no longer questions the existence of a 
Divine Intelligence. He gains Faith im- 
measurably. He feels keenly the wisdom 
of Truth and the mighty power of Love. 
And because of a deeper realization of 
these things he adds tremendously to the 
power of his personality. 

If you are not awake to the wonders of 
Nature, then you are but half alive. 

The more you seek Nature the more you 
will learn of its delightful secrets, and the 
less you will desire the make-believe pleas- 
ures, originated by man, most of which are 
detrimental to progress. 

Nature is incomparably restful, divinely 
inspiring, and in its phenomenal way has 
filled men with such wisdom and courage 
and brought them to such complete har- 
mony with the Divine that they faced the 
world single-handed and actually changed 
the destinies of mankind. Christ is the 
99 



most notable example. Why did he go 
into the wilderness? Because he had 
worked and lived among men and, pos- 
sessing the noblest soul that ever came to 
earth, he saw more clearly and felt more 
deeply than any individual the misery of 
men caused by their disobedience to Di- 
vine Law. It gripped him to such an ex- 
tent that he sought solitude to think 
things over. He went into the wilderness 
sick at heart, but, resting there on Na- 
ture's peaceful bosom, he heard clearly the 
voice of God; there among the trees and 
wild flowers he received that Divine wis- 
dom and courage and strength to again 
face a most wicked world, and in a fearless 
manner told king and laymen alike that 
only through Truth, Faith, and Love 
could they destroy the cancer which was 
rottening the heart of mankind. 

Jesus was a lover of Nature, and it was 
in the wilderness, surrounded on all sides 
by Nature's wonderful influence, that he 
decided upon a course. It was there that 
he definitely conquered temptation, and it 
was there in that environment of beauty 
and peace and strength that his soul be- 
came one with God, empowered to go forth 
with a Wisdom to teach and to do as no 
man has ever been able to do. 

By all means seek Nature often and you 






will profit immensely by contact with its 
innumerable beauties, its pleasing mys- 
teries, its fascinating charm, its wonderful 
peace. It will take the pallor from your 
cheek and cause a lustre in your eye. It 
will make of you a bigger and a better man. 
It will bring you close to the Divine, and 
you will acquire more wisdom, more con- 
fidence, more strength to live according to 
those principles which lead to success and 
happiness. 

To assume, as some do, that "Nature 
is God and not the work of God," is to be- 
lieve that God is in the onion and the cab- 
bage and goes into the pot with them when 
we prepare a meal. It is assuming that a 
wonderful painting is not the work of an 
artist, but "his living integument. " Could 
a sculptor carve a masterpiece on the face 
of a granite block from within ? 

The ancient Magians worshiped the 
sun. This in my mind is far more logical 
than to believe that God is in the tulip and 
the garlic, and not the Creator of them. 

Can you bring yourself to believe that 
the violinist is actually playing in the little 
box we call a phonograph, when in truth 
he is not present at all? But you can allow 
your emotions to be awakened to such an 
extent by the music which he has created 
that you actually feel his very presence in 



the cabinet. And just so it is with Nature, 
phenomenally (like the charm of music) we 
feel the Creator's presence so keenly that 
we are tempted to believe that Nature is 
God's living integument when in fact it is 
no more "His living integument" than the 
phonograph is that of the musician's. 

Therefore, I must take issue with all who 
claim that Nature is God and not the work 
of God. If any man can convince me that 
the phonograph could have been conceived 
and created in spite of intelligence, then, 
and only then, will I be ready to believe 
the non-existence of a Divine Intelligence. 

John Burroughs in his miscellaneous 
notes quotes Huxley: 

"What is it that constitutes and makes man what 
he is? 

"What is it but the power of language?" 

and Burroughs adds: 

"One may say with equal confidence that it is man 
that makes the language. Man is first and the 
language follows. You must have man before you 
can have language." 

and to this I will add: 

That you must have Intelligence before you can 
have man or language or nature. 

Intelligence is the beginning. To believe 
that intelligence is the result of things 



rather than the beginning of them, robs me 
of everything and leaves me nothing. 

Man is a part of Nature only as far as 
his material body goes. It is the type of his 
intelligence which distinguishes him, sets 
him apart, and makes him superior to all 
earthly things. 

Man's intelligence is of a Divine source. 
None will deny that it differs vastly from 
that which might exist in any other living 
thing on earth. Lord Kelvin says: 

"We must pause face to face with the mystery and 
the miracle of the creation of living creatures. In 
the coming into existence, or the growth, or the con- 
tinuance of the combinations presented in the 
bodies of living things, scientific thought is com- 
pelled to accept the idea of Creative Power." 

If scientific thought is compelled to accept 
the idea of a Power which creates life, dare 
scientific thought deny that that Power is 
inferior to that which it has created? Is 
the incandescent light greater than the 
brain of Edison ? 

All the centuries have produced no 
change in the ape. As far back as human 
knowledge goes, the earth had the identical 
ape that it has to-day. Although there is 
a resemblance between man and the Dar- 
win ape — each had its separate origin. No 
form of evolution could have established 
that type of intelligence which man pos- 
103 



sesses, and which is the insuperable bar- 
rier between ape and man and between 
man and every living, breathing thing on 
earth. The missing link is an invention 
of the human imagination to uphold the 
hypothesis of the Darwin theory. Dealing 
with facts is scientific; a theory that re- 
quires a missing link to uphold it, the ex- 
istence of which is purely imaginary, is 
unscientific. 

"Whatever the date of his first appearance may 
be, I th nk we may fairly contend that Man, as he 
is represented to us in the Adham of the early chap- 
ters of Genesis, appears at a much more recent date 
and that he received, as a special endowment from 
his Creator, those faculties that carry with them 
moral responsibility." — Rev. A. Irving^ D. Sc> B. A. 

The division was the beginning of a higher 
form of intelligence on earth. God him- 
self drew the line and feel assured no ape 
has ever crossed it. Possessing this 
earthly, superior intelligence, is it logical 
for us to conclude that we are supreme and 
that no higher form of intelligence could 
exist? Look into the heavens on a clear 
night and discover the insignificance of 
your supremacy. 

The vastness of the universe, however, 
does not bewilder the individual who has 
found harmony with the Divine Intelli- 
gence. His eyes have been opened, and he 
104 



realizes that space is but relative. Christ 
tells us that not even a sparrow shall fall 
to the ground but that the Divine shall 
know of it. Think of some friend thou- 
sands of miles away, does he seem any 
smaller? Is he any smaller because of the 
space which separates him from you? 
Certainly not! And just so it is with us in 
the sight of God. We are his children and 
not mere grains of dust as some would have 
us believe. Those who realize this truth 
are not frightened by the colossal greatness 
of things, they are conscious of that Om- 
nipotent Influence which is ever flowing 
through and sustaining the whole. They 
find inexpressible joy, strength, and com- 
fort in the realization that they possess 
such intelligence, which enables them to 
grasp this great and most beneficial truth. 

"Look around and survey the various beauties of 
the globe, which Heaven has destined for man, and 
consider whether a world thus exquisitely framed 
could be meant for the abode of misery and pain." — 
Johnson. 

It may be difficult for you at first to 
comprehend the wonderful benefits you 
will derive by placing yourself often in 
Nature's environment, for it is a fact that 
environment is responsible to a great de- 
gree for the kind of brain cells which you 
develop. Environment positively leads 
x °5 



to thought, and brain cells grow accord- 
ingly. For this reason we should avoid as 
much as possible unpleasant environment 
and seek always that which is beneficial 
to constructive thought, consequently de- 
veloping a higher form of intellect, which 
in its reaction creates a constant desire for 
progress and stimulates aggressiveness, 
which is most beneficial for the attainment 
of our desires and ambitions. 

Close contact with Nature will lead to 
the development of your five senses. It 
will give you greater power to observe, to 
hear, to taste, to smell, to feel, all of which 
intensifies the degree of thought and 
evolves a mind and personality accord- 
ingly. Nature's environment is most ad- 
vantageous for wholesome, inspiring 
thought; we learn to think on a higher 
plane. Its workings are marvelous, for 
example: the transformation of caterpillar 
to butterfly. Always carry a pocket glass 
and, as I have mentioned before, a good 
camera. The pictures you take while 
roaming the hills, fields, or forests will be- 
come rare possessions. 

Nature's influence upon the man who 
sincerely desires to progress in life is so 
beneficial that the fact cannot be made too 
emphatic. Nature's environment posi- 
tively arouses the best that is in him, very 
106 



often awakening wonderful talents which 
otherwise would have remained dormant; 
develops moral fiber and in its own mys- 
terious way sets upon him its seal of gen- 
uineness. And only those who are genuine 
at heart will ever attain such success, 
which results in genuine happiness which, 
after all, when we look straight through 
things, is the greatest desire of the soul. 
No material wealth on earth can buy the 
smallest measure of that splendid happi- 
ness which can only be gained by living in 
accordance with those principles that gov- 
ern Divine Law. Daniel Webster was once 
asked what was the most important 
thought that had ever occurred to his 
mind. Passing his hand over his forehead, 
he answered: 

"The most important thought that ever occurred 
to my mind was that of my individual responsibility 
to God." 

The man who lives thus fears no indict- 
ment, knows no want. He is gloriously 
free because of his unity with the Supreme 
Intelligence, Who is a most exacting Mas- 
ter, but also the Great Source from which 
all Love flows. 

"Those who will not feel Him in his love will be 
sure to feel Him in his displeasure." — Addison. 

107 



There is no road between, 

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth 
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from 
the law, till all be fulfilled. "—Christ. 

and, accordingly, every blessing and every 
punishment is measured out to you. We 
can find no fault with the system — it must 
be so if the human race is to progress and 
ever reach a state of perfection. There- 
fore, it is paramount if you desire to live 
a successful life, to come to a full realiza- 
tion, that Conscience is the Instrument of 
your soul through which you hear the 
voice Divine. That Truth, Faith, Love, 
and Order are the greatest principles in 
existence. And that Humor, Friendship, 
and the realization of Nature add immeas- 
urably to the growth of your personality. 
And that personality is You, and accord- 
ing to its development do you find your 
sphere in life. Either you rise or you fall. 
The choice is yours. 



"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of 
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise 
man, which built his house upon a rock: 

"And the rain descended, and the floods came, 
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and 
it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." 
108 



"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto 
you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let 
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Dec. 2004 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724) 779-21 1 1 



■■••.'■■■''•••. 

VmSSmfSSf 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

II 

i 




ii mi mil mi in 

013 611 386 



.■■'■■■■■. m 
ffiffi H HI * l-iMWiSSE 

HHHHH 
B; ill ! ■sv ;«ffl HL 

lilli WSSBBf 

■■■: .v ■■:■:•■'. ■ 

■HHH 

wfflsHffll :: HI SH H I ; 

■(BAHJDOQflOCIQl ' 

: •■:■'•■■'■:,, ■ 



■H 



HHP 

*?•#&■ -v. IRS 

&9HKir 

-.■'■''■:■ ■'■":■■■■■::■:■■ 






